Caribbean Central American Action, U.S. Department of Energy, Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands to host first Caribbean Clean Energy Technology Symposium in the Virgin Islands
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – March 16, 2015 - The V.I. Economic Development Authority (VIEDA), the lead organization for economic development in the U.S. Virgin Islands, announces that the first Caribbean Clean Energy Technology Symposium (CCETS) will be held on St. Thomas, USVI, to focus on critical energy needs of the Caribbean region. This symposium, co-hosted by the Caribbean Central American Action (C-CAA), U.S. Department of Energy, and the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands, will be held from March 24-27, 2015 at Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort.
The CCETS will be a gathering of key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to explore the expanded role that clean energy technologies can play in the electricity, transportation, industrial, and commercial sectors in the Caribbean region. This symposium will be the first in a series of three annual gatherings dedicated to meeting the critical energy needs of the Caribbean.
The goal of the CCETS is to bring together country and sector experts to share best practices and to work together to identify common goals and create action plans with deliverables that will lead to increasing access to energy efficiency and clean and renewable energy technology in Caribbean nations.
“The U.S. Virgin Islands is a prime location for the launch of this symposium. As clean energy continues to have an impact on economic development and our quality of life, the VIEDA supports all efforts for energy efficiency in the Caribbean,” said VIEDA’s Chief Executive Officer Percival E. Clouden.
During the symposium, in-depth discussions and planning sessions will focus on key clean energy topics previously identified by government and stakeholders in the region. These topics include, but are not limited to: energy education, economic development, building energy and water efficiency, utilities and renewable energy generation, base load electricity diversification, climate change and resilience, and clean transportation. The CCETS will also include a Technology Education Hall and exhibitor opportunities for private sector companies.
This symposium will provide not only an opportunity to have an exchange of ideas on some of the predominant technology, but it will also provide a roadmap for stakeholders to partner through working groups and strategic alliance to build regional capacity and advance the implementation of strategies to adopt clean energy.
On March 24, a series of pre-scheduled private meetings for stakeholder delegates, the opening of the exhibit area, and an evening reception will be held. A series of "Davos-style" panel discussions and keynote remarks will take place on March 25 prior to the meeting of Stakeholder Working Groups on March 26. On March 27, the V.I. Water and Power Authority will lead site visits to solar farms, propane installations, and other alternative energy structures on St. Thomas while the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority hosts a breakfast to promote the benefits of the USVI’s economic development program that is administered by the VIEDA’s Economic Development Commission.
To register for, or learn more about, the Caribbean Clean Energy Technology Symposium (CCETS), visit www.c-caa.org .
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